This dissertation consists of two empirical papers and one methods paper. The first two papers use quasi-experimental methods to evaluate the impact of universal health insurance reform in Massachusetts (MA) and Thailand and the third paper evaluates the validity of a quasi-experimental method used in comparative effectiveness research (CER).

The current legal framework pertaining to animals does not sufficiently address the welfare of animals. The Animal Protection Act 71 of 1962 does not specifically regulate the welfare of animals contained in research laboratories. Animals utilized for experimental research purposes endure tremendous “unnecessary suffering” due to legislative inaptitude. Experimental animals suffer inherent abuses associated with experimental research because of the methods, procedures and processes relevant to the experiments. The most controversial method of experimental research is vivisection. The method of vivisection is not only invasive but also causes “unnecessary suffering” to animals. The non-inherent abuses animals suffer during confinement in a laboratory solely relates to uncontrolled and unregulated conduct of staff. Continuing the application of the current legislative framework may also be detrimental to the health and well-being of humans. Animals are specifically utilized as objects of science in research laboratories. The data obtained from research experiments conducted on animals are for the benefit of humankind rather than the animals. Scientific research concluded that not only are invasive methods of research conducted on live animals generally regarded as useless but extrapolating data from animals to humans can also be misleading, unnecessary and dangerous. False results and questionable methodologies are some of the other problems that seem to require urgent attention. Ethically, neither human nor animal should be utilized at the expense of the other and therefore it would be reasonable to recommend that legislative reform takes place. The human perception of animals in terms of the relationship we have with them is the reason why legislative inaptitude in terms of animal welfare exists. The current approach followed is the philosophy of Utilitarianism. Utilitarians believe that neither humans nor animals have rights but interests. Utilitarianism focuses on the permissibility of an act (the use of animals) by weighing the benefits of such an act to the costs suffered because of such act. If the benefits outweigh the costs suffered, the act is permissible. The application of Utilitarianism seems to be the crux of our legislative inaptitude. The human perception and view of animals must therefore be re-directed to develop a sufficient legal framework in terms of animal welfare. A solution offered is to apply an alternative interpretation to the concept of “dignity” (capabilities approach) and progressive realisation. In terms of this solution a species capabilities in terms of its value, capabilities and worth are considered. Inherent to its value, capabilities and worth, is its “dignity”. Once the alternative interpretation of “dignity” is acknowledged, the progressive realisation of its interests can be achieved. / Thesis (LLM)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013

The current legal framework pertaining to animals does not sufficiently address the welfare of animals. The Animal Protection Act 71 of 1962 does not specifically regulate the welfare of animals contained in research laboratories. Animals utilized for experimental research purposes endure tremendous “unnecessary suffering” due to legislative inaptitude. Experimental animals suffer inherent abuses associated with experimental research because of the methods, procedures and processes relevant to the experiments. The most controversial method of experimental research is vivisection. The method of vivisection is not only invasive but also causes “unnecessary suffering” to animals. The non-inherent abuses animals suffer during confinement in a laboratory solely relates to uncontrolled and unregulated conduct of staff. Continuing the application of the current legislative framework may also be detrimental to the health and well-being of humans. Animals are specifically utilized as objects of science in research laboratories. The data obtained from research experiments conducted on animals are for the benefit of humankind rather than the animals. Scientific research concluded that not only are invasive methods of research conducted on live animals generally regarded as useless but extrapolating data from animals to humans can also be misleading, unnecessary and dangerous. False results and questionable methodologies are some of the other problems that seem to require urgent attention. Ethically, neither human nor animal should be utilized at the expense of the other and therefore it would be reasonable to recommend that legislative reform takes place. The human perception of animals in terms of the relationship we have with them is the reason why legislative inaptitude in terms of animal welfare exists. The current approach followed is the philosophy of Utilitarianism. Utilitarians believe that neither humans nor animals have rights but interests. Utilitarianism focuses on the permissibility of an act (the use of animals) by weighing the benefits of such an act to the costs suffered because of such act. If the benefits outweigh the costs suffered, the act is permissible. The application of Utilitarianism seems to be the crux of our legislative inaptitude. The human perception and view of animals must therefore be re-directed to develop a sufficient legal framework in terms of animal welfare. A solution offered is to apply an alternative interpretation to the concept of “dignity” (capabilities approach) and progressive realisation. In terms of this solution a species capabilities in terms of its value, capabilities and worth are considered. Inherent to its value, capabilities and worth, is its “dignity”. Once the alternative interpretation of “dignity” is acknowledged, the progressive realisation of its interests can be achieved. / Thesis (LLM)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013

Diss. (sammanfattning) Stockholm : Handelshögsk., 2003. / Härtill 6 uppsatser.

abstract: A major challenge in health-related policy and program evaluation research is attributing underlying causal relationships where complicated processes may exist in natural or quasi-experimental settings. Spatial interaction and heterogeneity between units at individual or group levels can violate both components of the Stable-Unit-Treatment-Value-Assumption (SUTVA) that are core to the counterfactual framework, making treatment effects difficult to assess. New approaches are needed in health studies to develop spatially dynamic causal modeling methods to both derive insights from data that are sensitive to spatial differences and dependencies, and also be able to rely on a more robust, dynamic technical infrastructure needed for decision-making. To address this gap with a focus on causal applications theoretically, methodologically and technologically, I (1) develop a theoretical spatial framework (within single-level panel econometric methodology) that extends existing theories and methods of causal inference, which tend to ignore spatial dynamics; (2) demonstrate how this spatial framework can be applied in empirical research; and (3) implement a new spatial infrastructure framework that integrates and manages the required data for health systems evaluation. The new spatially explicit counterfactual framework considers how spatial effects impact treatment choice, treatment variation, and treatment effects. To illustrate this new methodological framework, I first replicate a classic quasi-experimental study that evaluates the effect of drinking age policy on mortality in the United States from 1970 to 1984, and further extend it with a spatial perspective. In another example, I evaluate food access dynamics in Chicago from 2007 to 2014 by implementing advanced spatial analytics that better account for the complex patterns of food access, and quasi-experimental research design to distill the impact of the Great Recession on the foodscape. Inference interpretation is sensitive to both research design framing and underlying processes that drive geographically distributed relationships. Finally, I advance a new Spatial Data Science Infrastructure to integrate and manage data in dynamic, open environments for public health systems research and decision- making. I demonstrate an infrastructure prototype in a final case study, developed in collaboration with health department officials and community organizations. / Dissertation/Thesis / Doctoral Dissertation Geography 2017

Made available in DSpace on 2016-03-15T19:32:32Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Jandira Sandra Ferreira.pdf: 942561 bytes, checksum: 92b3dfce327e030f3a4cad22bd9f6060 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2011-02-09 / Fundo Mackenzie de Pesquisa / Understanding the changes in attitudes towards others is a key factor to understand human behavior. Correlations between values subliminally presented observed in tasks of decision aim at investigating behavioral attitudes. The aim of this study is to investigate the influence exerted by the subliminal effect uptions cognition in decision tasks in a scenario of stock acquisition through the experimental approach. For this purpose, using the simulation of investment, an experiment which considered four types of decision on whether to purchase the stocks (buy, may buy, may not buy, and not buy) was conducted. This study included 31 professionals in a Neuroscience laboratory, in which each target was preceded by a subliminal stimulus lasting 17 minutes, using a mask bearing words typical of Economics (positive /negative) randomly categorized. The proposal of the research was to analyze the positive or negative effects on decisions. The experimental results were statistically analyzed using the techniques Chi-square and ANOVA. The analysis of the first hypothesis suggests that there was no influence of words on the decision, however, when examining the second hypothesis,the results suggest that when the subject does not know the company, his/her decision can indeed be influenced, showing that lack of knowledge permits influence of words; in the third hypothesis when the choice is related to companies that appear in the BOVESPA index,suggesting companies that do not belong to this index, the subjects are influenced by the words when making decisions about stock acquisition; in the fourth and latest hypothesis the results indicate no difference between men and women. In short, our findings suggest that subliminal effects influence decisions when the subjects are not familiar with the companies,because the subjects were affected in our experiment. It is hoped that these research results may encourage further empirical studies on subliminal influence to enhance the development of behavioral research. / Compreender as mudanças de atitudes em relação aos outros é fundamental para compreensão do comportamento humano. Correlações entre valores apresentados de forma subliminares observados em tarefas de decisões objetivam investigar o comportamento do indivíduo. Este estudo teve como objetivo investigar a influência do efeito subliminar sobre a cognição em tarefas de decisão em opções de compra de ações, mediante abordagem experimental. Para isso, utilizando a simulação de investimento, foi conduzido um experimento que considerou quatro tipos de decisões sobre a possibilidade de compra de ações (compro / talvez compre / talvez não compre / não compro). Participaram do estudo 31 profissionais em um laboratório de Neurociência, em que cada alvo foi precedido por um estímulo subliminar com duração de 17ms, utilizando uma máscara com palavras (positivas / negativas) da Economia,categorizadas aleatoriamente. A pesquisa se propôs a analisar o efeito positivo ou negativo sobre as decisões. Os resultados experimentais foram analisados estatisticamente utilizando as técnicas Qui-quadrado e ANOVA. A análise da primeira hipótese sugere que não houve influência das palavras sobre a decisão, porém, ao analisar a segunda hipótese, os resultados sugerem que, quando o sujeito não conhece a empresa, sua decisão pode, sim, ser influenciada, demonstrando que o não-conhecimento sofre influência das palavras; na terceira hipótese, quando a escolha está relacionada a empresas que estão no índice IBOVESPA, sugerindo para as empresas que não compõem este índice, os sujeitos são influenciados pelas palavras ao efetuarem decisões sobre compra de ações; na quarta e última hipótese os resultados não indicam diferenças entre homens e mulheres. Em suma, os resultados encontrados sugerem que efeito subliminar influencia a decisão, quando os sujeitos não conhecem as empresas, pois os sujeitos foram afetados. Espera-se que os resultados desta pesquisa estimulem novos estudos empíricos sobre a influência subliminar, para o desenvolvimento da investigação comportamental.

Orientador: Rosângela de Barros Zanoni Lopes Moreno / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Engenharia Mecânica, Instituto de Geociências / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-26T14:12:49Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Rios_ViniciusdeSouza_M.pdf: 4750448 bytes, checksum: f37f3a92613dec5888a4b151fd115ece (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014 / Resumo: Dadas as práticas atuais de gerenciamento de reservatórios, motivadas pelos altos preços do petróleo e baixa eficiência de métodos convencionais de recuperação, as empresas operadoras têm considerado a aplicação de métodos de recuperação avançada (EOR) cada vez mais cedo na vida produtiva dos seus campos. Neste contexto, a importância de pesquisas e desenvolvimento de métodos avançados como injeção de polímeros tem aumentado fortemente nas últimas décadas. A injeção de polímero é um método químico de recuperação indicado para casos de reservatórios heterogêneos ou em que a razão de mobilidades entre água e o óleo é alta, dita desfavorável. Este método mostra-se bastante eficaz, atuando no aumento da viscosidade da água, que reflete em deslocamentos mais eficientes devido à redução da razão de mobilidades. Visando avaliar o desempenho deste método de recuperação, este trabalho apresenta um estudo da técnica de injeção de polímeros através de três abordagens: experimental, analítica e numérica. O trabalho experimental envolveu testes utilizando uma amostra de arenito, em que se realizou o deslocamento de óleo mineral grau SAE 15W-40, com viscosidade acima de 200 cP em condição ambiente. Como fluido deslocante, utilizou-se uma solução salina (110.000 ppm NaCl) para simular a recuperação através de injeção convencional de água e uma solução salina contendo polímero sintético (1500 ppm HPAM e 110.000 ppm NaCl), visando a simulação do método de injeção de polímeros como método avançado de recuperação. A investigação analítica se deu através da utilização de um modelo baseado na análise de fluxo fracionário, que foi aplicado para estudo dos perfis de saturação e avaliação da recuperação de óleo pela injeção de solução polimérica em diferentes condições. Esta etapa foi auxiliada por um algoritmo, que permitiu a avaliação de diversos cenários de maneira prática através da manipulação dos parâmetros de entrada do código desenvolvido. A etapa numérica foi realizada utilizando software comercial de simulação de fluxo com o objetivo de representar e obter o ajuste de histórico dos testes de deslocamento realizados na etapa experimental, comparando assim os métodos de recuperação e avaliando a capacidade do simulador comercial de representar os fenômenos observados experimentalmente. As abordagens analítica e numérica complementaram o estudo experimental, possibilitando maior compreensão dos fenômenos envolvidos no escoamento da solução polimérica. Além disso, através da sensibilidade adquirida no estudo analítico e ajuste de histórico realizado na etapa numérica, foi possível estimar alguns parâmetros não obtidos experimentalment / Abstract: Due to the current reservoir management practices, motivated by the high oil prices and poor efficiency of conventional recovery methods, the operators have considered the application of enhanced oil recovery (EOR) in the early stage of the productive life of the field In this context, the importance of research and development of enhanced oil recovery methods, as polymer flooding, has strongly increased in the past few decades. Polymer flooding is a chemical recovery method indicated for heterogeneous reservoirs or reservoirs where mobility ratio between water and oil is high, said unfavorable. This method presents great results, increasing the water viscosity and leading to higher sweep efficiency, due to a reduction of the mobility ratio. This work aims to evaluate the performance of polymer flooding through a study based on three approaches: experimental, analytical and numerical. The experimental work involved displacement tests performed in a sandstone sample, using mineral oil of 200 cp at room temperature. As displacing fluid, a brine (110.000 ppm NaCl) was used to simulate a conventional recovery method and a polymer solution (1500 ppm HPAM e 110.000 ppm NaCl) was injected to simulate the polymer flooding recovery method. The analytical investigation was done using fractional flow calculations applied to polymer flooding. An analytical model was applied to study the saturation profiles and evaluate the oil recovery by polymer flooding at different conditions. This study used an algorithm, which allowed the evaluation of polymer flooding at different scenarios in a practical and fast way. The numerical evaluation was performed using a commercial simulator, aiming to represent and obtain the history match of the displacement tests done in the experimental work and evaluate the capacity of the simulator to represent the phenomena observed experimentally. The analytical and numerical approaches complemented the experimental study, allowing better comprehension of the phenomena present in the polymer flooding method. Furthermore, from the sensitivity acquired in the analytical study and the history match in the numerical study, it was also possible to estimate some parameters not obtained in the lab / Mestrado / Reservatórios e Gestão / Mestre em Ciências e Engenharia de Petróleo

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) / This thesis sought to attain a greater understanding of persuasion through narrative. First, a rhetorical analysis was conducted. The rhetorical analysis identified fantasy themes represented in two original music video artifacts. These themes formed what the author calls Symbolic Convergence Cycle of Intimate Partner Violence (IPV). Next, an experiment was conducted to provide further evidence that realistic narrative presentations have a greater ability to shape perceptions than more abstract presentations. Findings included that women were more likely to identify subtle abusive behaviors as abusive then men. However, after exposure to conditions containing the visual portion of the music video “Love the Way You Lie”, both female and male participants were less likely to identify subtle abusive behavior as abusive. This revealed that even though two messages can contain the same themes about the subject of IPV, the way that these messages were presented effected the way in which viewers interpreted the messages.

Este trabalho apresenta uma análise teórico-experimental da ligação pilar-fundação por meio de cálice em estruturas de concreto pré-moldado, com ênfase no colarinho. No programa experimental, foram ensaiados cinco protótipos sob força normal com grande excentricidade, variando-se o tipo e condição de interface: três com interface lisa, onde em dois foi eliminada a adesão para representar a situação mais adequada de projeto; e dois com interface rugosa, com duas configurações diferentes de chaves de cisalhamento. Foram realizadas simulações numéricas pelo método dos elementos finitos nos modelos lisos sem adesão, com as não-linearidades físicas e de contato, e nos cálices rugosos, considerando-se a não-linearidade física e a aderência perfeita das interfaces. Os resultados experimentais indicaram a necessidade de se reavaliar os principais métodos de projeto para essa ligação. Desta forma, foi proposto, para o cálice liso, um modelo de projeto considerando o atrito entre as interfaces e o cálculo das paredes longitudinais como consolos. Já para o cálice com interface rugosa, como foi verificada a proximidade do comportamento dos modelos físicos rugosos com uma ligação monolítica, recomendou-se o dimensionamento de suas armaduras verticais, admitindo a transferência total dos esforços, e das armaduras horizontais superiores também com o funcionamento das paredes longitudinais como consolos. Os modelos numéricos apresentaram uma boa convergência e semelhanças na fissuração e no caminho de tensões em relação aos protótipos físicos, apesar das deformações terem sido menores que as observadas experimentalmente. / This research presents a theoretical-experimental analysis of column-foundation connection through socket of precast concrete structures, with emphasis in pedestal walls. The experimental program included five models submitted to normal load with large eccentricity, changing the type and the condition of interface: three models had smooth interface and two models had rough interface. In two of smooth models, the bond was eliminated to represent the more appropriate situation of design. Two different configurations of shear keys were used in rough models. Numerical simulations, by finite elements method, were developed on the smooth models without bond, using physical and contact non-linear analyses, and on the rough socket connections, using physical non-linear analyses and perfect adherence of interfaces. The experimental results indicated the need to revalue the principal design methods for this connection. In that way, a design model was proposed for the smooth socket connection, considering friction between the interfaces, and the design of longitudinal walls was suggested as corbels. As it was verified the proximity of rough physical models behavior with a monolithic connection, its vertical reinforcings design was recommended, admitting the total transfer of the efforts. Numerical models had a good convergence and likeness with cracking and tensions field of physical prototypes, in spite of deformations have been smaller than experimental results.

Genesis of life begins with the fusion of female and male haploid gametes through a process of fertilization leading to the formation of a diploid cell, the zygote. This undergoes successive cleavage divisions forming 2-, 4- and 8- cell embryos and their individual cells (blastomeres) are totipotent. As development proceeds, there is a gradual restriction in their totipotency, resulting in the generation of two distinct cell lineages i.e., the differentiated trophectoderm (TE) cells and the undifferentiated, inner cell mass (ICM) during blastocyst morphogenesis (Rossant and Tam 2009). During the course of development, the ICM cells can give rise to all cell types of an organism and can also provide embryonic stem (ES)-cells when cultured in vitro (Evan and Kaufman 1981). ES-cells are pluripotent cells, having the ability to self-renew indefinitely and differentiate into all the three primary germ layers (ectoderm, mesoderm and endoderm) derived-cell types. ES-cells are an excellent developmental model system to understand basic mechanisms of self-renewal, cell differentiation and function of various genes in vitro and in vivo (Capecchi 2001). Importantly, their cell derivatives could potentially be used for experimental cell-based therapy for a number of diseases. Although, human ES-cell lines have been successfully derived and differentiated to various cell types (Thomson et al., 1998; Odorico et al., 2001), their cell-therapeutic potential is far from being tested, in view of the lack of our understanding of lineage-specific differentiation, homing and structural-functional integration of differentiated cell types in the host environment. To understand these mechanisms, it is desirable to have fluorescently-marked ES-cells and their differentiated cell-types, which could facilitate experimental cell transplantation studies. In this regard, our laboratory has earlier generated enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP)-expressing FVB/N transgenic ‘green’ mouse, under the control of ubiquitous chicken -actin promoter (Devgan et al., 2003). This transgenic mouse has been an excellent source of intrinsically green fluorescent cell types. We have been attempting to derive ES-cell line from this transgenic mouse. Because the derivation of ES-cell line is genetic strain-dependent, with some strains being relatively permissible for ES-cell derivation while others are quite resistant (non permissive), it has been extremely difficult to derive ES-cell line from the FVB/N mouse strain. There is a need to evolve experimental strategies to derive ES-cell line from FVB/N mouse, a strain extensively used for transgenesis. Thus, the aims of the study described in the thesis are to: (1) develop an experimental system to derive EGFP-expressing fluorescently-marked ES-cell line from a non-permissive FVB/N mouse strain; (2) characterize the established ES-cell line; (3) achieve differentiation of various cell types from EGFP-expressing ES-cell line and (4) understand role of FGF signaling in cardiac differentiation from the established ES-cell line. In order to have an appropriate and relevant literature background, the 1st chapter in this thesis describes a comprehensive up-to-date review of literature, pertaining to the early mammalian development and differentiation of blastocyst, followed by origin and properties of ES-cells. Various ES-cell derivation strategies from genetically permissive and non-permissive mouse strains are described and also the ES-cell differentiation potential to various progenitors and differentiated cell types. Subsequently, details on molecular basis of cardiac differentiation and the therapeutic potential of ES-cell derived differentiated cell types to treat disease(s) are described. This chapter is followed by three data chapters (II-IV). Chapter-II describes the issues related to non-permissiveness of FVB/N strain for ES-cell derivation and strategies to overcome this hurdle. This is followed by detailed results pertaining to generation of homozygous EGFP-expressing transgenic mice and development of a two-pronged ES-cell derivation approach to successfully establish a permanent ES-cell line (named ‘GS-2’ ES-cell line) from the EGFP-transgenic ‘green’ mouse. This chapter also provides results pertaining to detailed characterization of the ‘GS-2’ ES-cell line which includes colony morphology, expansion efficiency, alkaline phosphatase staining, expression analysis of pluripotent markers by RT-PCR and immunostaining approaches and karyotyping. Following this, the outcome of results and significance in the context of reported information are discussed in detail. Having successfully derived the ‘GS-2’ ES-cell line, it is necessary to thoroughly assess the differentiation competence of the ‘GS-2’ ES-cell line. Therefore, the Chapter-III describes detailed assessment of the in vitro and in vivo differentiation potential of the ‘GS-2’ ES-cell line. For in vitro differentiation, results pertaining to ES-cell derived embryoid body (EB) formation and their differentiation to ectodermal, mesodermal and endodermal cell types, expressing nestin, BMP-4 and α-fetoprotein, respectively, are described. Besides, the robustness of adaptability of ‘GS-2’ ES-cells to various culture conditions for their maintenance and differentiation are described. Also shown in the chapter is the relatively greater propensity of this cell line to cardiac differentiation. For in vivo differentiation, the ‘GS-2’ ES-cell derived teratoma formation in nude mice and its detailed histological analysis showing three germ layer cell types and their derivatives are described. Last part of the data described in this chapter, pertains to generation of chimeric blastocysts by aggregation method. Because the ‘GS-2’ ES-cell line exhibited a robust differentiation potential, including an efficient cardiomyocyte differentiation, it is of interest to enhance the efficiency of cardiomyocyte differentiation by exogenous addition of one of the key growth factors i.e., FGF8b since this has been implicated to be critical for cardiogenesis in non-mammalian verterbrate species. Therefore, Chapter-IV is focused on assessing the ability of ‘GS-2’ ES-cell line for its cardiomyocyte differentiation property with particular emphasis on the FGF-induced cardiac differentiation. Results pertaining to the expressions of various FGF ligands and their receptors during differentiation of ES-cells are described. Besides, increases in the cardiac efficiency, following FGF8b treatment and the associated up-regulation of cardiac-specific markers such as GATA-4, ISL-1 and α-MHC are shown. At the end of data chapters, separate sections are devoted for ‘Summary and Conclusion’ and for ‘Bibliography’.